Evening and grading machine.



simens. EVENING' hun :GRADING Mmmm Patented 1560.351912,

P. NICHOLS.

EVENING AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 27..1905.

Patented 1590.3, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r1-1?. NIGHOLS.` l 'EVENING AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APB.27, 1905. I

Patented Dec. 3,1912;

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.'

E. P. NICHOLS.

EVENING AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLmA'HoN FILED un. 27. 1 905.

Patented Dec.r3, 1912.

5 SHEETS-snm: 4.

mines@ e s. vQmxe nio Z1 zanja/- E. P. NICHOLS. i EVENING AND GRADINGMACHINE. APPLICATION FILED A1R.27, 1905.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

ELMER P. NICHOLS, 0F MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR T0 LACENE MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

EVENING- AND GRADING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

Application filed April 27, 1905. 'Serial No. 257,587.

Manchester, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, haveinvented an Improvement in Evening and Grading Machines, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like letterson the drawings representing like parts.

My invention isf a machine for evening and grading leather, and consistsof improvements along the line of work originally set forth in mypatents of November 22, 1904, Re. No. 12,288 and of January 22, 1907,No. 841,809.`

My resent aim is to providel means for finer, more-accurate andsensitive work than in my previous machines (as disclosed in theaforesaid patent and in my succeeding applications), and includesmechanism for especially adapting my invention to evening and gradingcounters and taps or half-soles.

Aside from the general principles of operation2 I provide a feelingmechanism which is exceedingly sensitive to the edgethicknesses of thevsoles, taps, counters and the like and which affords more positiveaction than heretofore in detecting thin places. The means which Iprefer to .em-

ploy for this purpose consists of a flexible plate capable ofbending'upwardly or doyvnwardly at either or both ends; and inconnection with this plate I provide certain compensating mechanism forgiving positive detecting action with a lighter spring than formerly forpreventing.- the liability of compressing the stock, especially at theedges.

A further feature which is especially adapted for taps resides in meansforbringmg the evening and grade-setting mechaltransmitting the nism orfeeler device'into active operation immediately, the instant the stockis in measurable position. Also the present machine embodies a strong,positive feed adapted to feed very thin and soft stock with the samefacility as less pliable and les/s yielding stock.

`I provide positive unyielding means for detected measurements from thefeelers to the marking and evenin devices at. the opposite end of themachine, thereby avoiding the possibility of error resulting froml alink, strap or' similar" transmission device as heretofore employed.

Another important feature of my invention resides in the automaticadjustment o -f the evening mechanism, whereby all possibility ofuncertainty, due to slip or spring or. yield of parts, is eliminated,which has been liable heretofore to occur when the machine was`run atmaximum speed. Preferably this feature includes opposite steppedinclinedor adjusting wedges or cams located preferably at the upper side of themovable roll or controlling devicewhich coperates. with the skivingknife; and in connection with these inclines I prefer to employ a heavyadjustable head and also a sensitive trip capable4 of operating they'marking v2device for very thin stock such as' counters and innersoles. yK

Again, I have devised mechanism whereby the more delicate parts of themechanism are housed within the frame out of possible contact with alloutside objects The machine is provided with guiding or 'centering meansfor directing the stock properly at its entrance to the machine, besidesvarious other features of invention, all of which will be pointed outmore fully in the course of the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown a preferredembodiment of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a left-hand,

side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 shows the machine in right-hand,side elevation; Fig. 3 is a front end view thereof; Fig. 4 is a top planview; Fig. 5 is a central, vertical,

longitudinal section, parts being omitted for clearness; Fig. 6 is aslightly enlarged side elevation of the adjusting wedges andadjacentparts; Fig. 7 is a View illustrating the operation of the feeleror detecting mechanism at the a detail, in front elevation,"of a portionof the clutch mechanism or tripping device for the grade marker; andFig. 9 is a detail o f a portion of the grade-setting and lockingmechanism. f The machine operates on the same general plan as is morefully set forth in my beforementioned patent, and, therefore, I willconfine myself herein, more directly to the co`n structional detailsthereof. w v

My object is, as before, to classify the leather pieces automatically inresponse to the determinations of the feeler'means, and accordinglythese determinations are transfront of the machine; Fig. 8

' or detectors 11, 12,

i Whose condition is being Vni'1':e1:lf \to leather-engaging means Whichacts upon the leather-pieces to render the grade subsequentlyrecognizable in some delinite Way.

Viewing more particularly Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it Will be seen that I haveprovided in the frame 1, above the gate 2, a guide-carrying rod 3operated by a hand wheel 4 and provided With right and left threads formoving simultaneously 'to equi-distant positions from the center of themachine, opposite guides 5 whereby the operator may quickly set themachine for running through any Width of stock. proper time forpermitting the feeding` in of stock and then falls automaticarllypaswill be presently explained more at length. As the stock is fed in, itstrikes the prongs 6 of t-he feed chain 7 and is carried beneath afeeler plate `8 which, together with its con,- nected mechanism,constitutesone .of the main features of my invention. This plate ispreferably made of steel and is flexible, as distinguished fromblock-like and rigid, said flexibility being preferably secured bymaking th plate thin and resilient, as clearly shown inFigs. 3 and 5,whereby, as the stock is raised against said plate by the feed chain- 7and the feedl roll 9, said plate Will yield to the variations ofthickness, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. On its upperside the plate 8 isprovided with opposite blocks 10 engaged by vert-icalfeelers orfeeler-posts slotted at their upper ends 13, see .'Fig. 5, for engaginga transverse pin or rod 14 mounted in opposite armsl 15, 16, fast on arock shaft 17 journaled in opposite standards 18, 19 of the frame.The-slots 13 are provided for permitting one post tov remain up while,the

other post is pulling downwardly and'op-' erating said rock shaft whenfeeling' a thin spot along the adjacent edge of the' leather detectedand deterrmined. On the rod 14, between the arms into a block 21 whichin turn sets loosely on the middle of-the plate 8 and supports a spring22 on said rod. In the opposite standards l8and 19 are pivotally mountedopposite bell-crank levers 23. 24, whose lower arms carry rollers 25freely engaging the upper ends of the blocks 10 respectively. theirupper arms being connected to a spring 26 adjustable by a thumb nut 27for regulating the tension o f said bell-cranks or 15, 16, is pivoted arod 20 extending loosely elbow-levers and constituting an equalizer .forapplying bplance n pressure upon the opposite edges of thc/ This spring26 ,and the connected mechanism affords a very advantageous operation.y

inasmuch as it not only 4brings the desired pressure upon the leather atth'e edges thereof, but, as either of the elbow levers is raised by athick portion, the increase-Cof tension This gate rises at the workbeing detected.A

other down, and if both levers move up or "both move down simultaneously1t is evident that the pressure still remains uniform for both levers,whereas when separate springs are used for controlling the opposite endsofthe plate 8, as in my patent before-inentioned, or when a positivelyfixed or contro-lied spring is used, there is not only an unduepressure, but the pressure is unequal at the opposite ends of the plate.My present construction,4 however, insures the proper action with aminimum pressure on the stock, the spring 26 being relatively lightinasmuch as all its tension is' constantly rendered effective anduniformly so at the points required and not elsewhere.

In its broader aspect, this'part of my invention consists of delicateand uniformpressure transmitting feelcr means for detecting thin spotsin the leather without Also as the pressui'e-dist-ortion, combined with"means for conveying the result to the result-indicating means ofWhatever sort.

For different widths of stock I adjust the posts 11, 12 on the blocks 10by any convenient means as by a pin and slot adjustment-28, whichisherein claimed, but the provision of a member extending across theleather piece from side to side thereof and provided with opposite meansengaging said member for transmitting theA movements thereof to thegrading meihanism is not herein claimed broadly. as it forms part ofthesubject matter of my eopending application Serial No. 219,755, liledAugust G', 1904, lsince become Patent No. 1.009,988, as does Aalso theprovision of a. positively controlled gate, broadly considered.

The tension of the spring 22 is controlled by a nut 29 for controllingthe flexibility of the plate 8 and also giving quick .responsiveness tothe detector-transmitting mechanism as will be more fully explainedlater. The stronger the tension of the spring 22, the less can the plate8 bend upwardly in the middle and hence the greater is its tendency toremain rigid, thereby readily accommodating the machine tonarrow stock.such as counters and unusually soft stock such as is occasionally foundin soles.

At the outer end of the rock shaft 17 is a crank 3() connected by a link31 to an arm 32 of a pivotallv mounted sector 33 having teeth 34 foroperating with a p awl 35Jpivoted at 36 and operated by a sliding bar 37pivoted at 38 to an arm 3 9 projecting frOm a Shaft l0 provided at itsoppo- IFig. 3, while still permitting' it to swing freely in an oppositedirection as required for successively thinner spots in the leather asdetected by thev feeler mechanism. For delicately adjusting thismechanism I provide a right and left threaded adjusting nut 44 and a setnut 45 on the link 31.

\ For rendering my machine more quickly responsive so as to adapt it tovery short stock such as taps or counters, or to even and grade theentire length of other stock, I provide fingers 46, see Figs. 2 and 5,in the ath of the stockgimmediately back of the eeler plate 8 andprovided with a short crank 47 on the end of its shaft 48 for lifting alever 49 pivoted at 50 on the frame of the machine, and shown in Fig. 2as held in inoperative position by a pin 51 but adapted to be throwndown to its dotted line position for engaging a lifting projection '52on the lever `37, thereby operating the pawl 35 as before explained. Thesector33 end 53 which has toothed engagement with a pinion 54 on thelower end of the shaft 55 which carries at its upper end a similarpinion '56 engaging a rack bar -57 slidingly mounted in a heavy head 58,see Figs. l, 2,

0, on the rear standards 59 of the machine which carry the grade markingand evening. devices which are to be set in accordance with thedeterminations of the feeler or detecting mechanism at the front of themachine. At its outer end the rack bar 57 has a rigid arm 60 pivotallyconnected by a rigid rodtl to a T-shaped arm 62 whose segmental rack 63engages a pinion 64 fast on a stub s'haft 65 whose opposite: end carriesthe marking wheel or die 66 which otherwise operates the same as in mypatent before-mentioned. The grade-marking .feature of the invention isnot herein claimed per se, having been separated out, for a divisionalpatent.

As shown most clearlyl in Fig. 6, it will be seen that the rack bar 57carries a pair of inclines 67 coperating with an opposite pair ofnotched cams (by which I mean devices having stop surfaces atsuccessively varying distances or positions definitely, separated ordelimited from each other, as distinguished from the smooth or regularcam surface of the stop-means shown and,

claimed in my Patents 841,809 and 1,009,988 above, in which thegraduations of the cam mounted concentrically of itssurfaces mergesmoothly from one to the next, producing a smooth wedging surface) saidnotched cams being preferably in the form of stepped 'inclines or wedges68 mounted respectively on the upper sides of the journal' boxes 69 ofthe gage-roll or pressure device 7 0 and acting as stop-means forpositively limiting the upward movement of said pressure device 70.The`rack bar 57 is connected at 71 with a spring 72 secured at 73 to thehead 58, whereby said rack bar and all the connected mechanism extendingtherefrom to the feeling mechanism are held constantly in one and thesame relation, thereby preventing any possibility of back play, lostmotion, etc. Extreme precision and accuracy of grading are accomplishedby combining this feature with that 'other feature ofmy inventionwhereby the grading mechanism is adjusted at once to each successiveincrement of thinness-measurementas it is determined by the feelermechanism (which latter feature, however, is not herein claimed, as itfordms Aa part of the subject matter of my copending application 219,755now Patent 1,009,988

above). Said inclines or wedges are stepped or provided with a series ofsuccessive parallel plane surfaces or impact surfaces very short andfine, (herein shown exaggerated, being actually 1/96th of an inch inheight) so that in whatever position they may be adjusted the verticalmovement of the gageroll 70 as it is lifted by the passing stock Willcause one serie's of flat surfaces to engage the opposite series of flatsurfaces perpendicular to their planes, thereby preventing anypossibility of jumping or sliding and shifting on each other. Thesemachines are run at a righ speed and are required to be extremelyaccurate, grading and evening the leather with absolute accuracy, and asthe front end of a sole, for instance, is broughtby the feed chainsuddenly beneath the gage-roll 70 the latter is jumped upward forciblywith such suddenness and momentum'as to require an absolutely unyieldingand positive stop.

By `providing the stepped construction above explained, there is notendency to shift or yield laterally, as would be the case if onewedge-surface met another Wedge, surface along inclined planes or evenone wedge surface against another surface, whether wedge shaped or not,as in the gradl uated cams or stop-means of my last mentioned patents.Moreover, by having the adjusting mechanism on top of the -journalboxes, as distinguished from being connected by rods to 'supportsbeneath t-he machine, there is no possibility of give or spring, but thegage-roll 70 is stopped positively and definitely at a giver. pointaccording to the adjustment of the Wedges.' `The head 58 is very heavyand is adjustablyvmounted at its four corners by any suitable means, aheavy hollow screw 74 being shown as screwing into said head andcontaining a screw 75 threaded into the standard 59. This provisionenables the user of the machine to obtain just such relative adjustmentvbetween the grading and the evening as he may desire. For example, inone factory they may desire to have the evening light with reference tothe grade marks, rwhereas in another factory they may desire to haveslightly more leather than the grade marks would indicate. The notchedor stepped cam stop or wedge G8 is arranged to be adjusted with relationto the part engaged thereby when said parts are out of sliding contactwith each other (as distinguished for instance fromv the slidingadjustment of my last mentioned patent), but this feature, consideredbroadly, is not herein claimed, as it forms part of the subjectmatter ofmy application 219,755 now Patent 1,009,988 above. The lower roll 76 isyieldingly supported by springs 77 in the same manner as shown in mysaid patent.

The evening means or mechanism may be defined as consisting of cuttingmeans and cooperating means to co-ntrol the position of the leatherwhile being cut, so that the leather will be properly cut level or even,c'. e., evened to exactly the required extent. In the preferredmechanism herein shown, the cutting means is an ordinary skiving knife,and the ccperating ineans which controls the position of the leatherwhile being' cut includes the cam stops or stepped inclines, and thepressure roll or gage device interposed between said stops and the topsurface of the leather'. This is the preferred construction, but I wishit understood that, unless otherwise restricted in the claims, I am notlimited thereto, the evening mechanism (which is one form of the stockgrading mechanism herein provided, the other form being the markingmechanism) is intended broadly to include any and all forms of mechanism'capable of Vbringing uneven leather down to an even condition. Thedelinitely limit-ing holding mechanism for maintaining the leather at anunchangeable distance from the knife while being out, is made adjustableto respond to the feeler mechanism and thereby carrv out the mainpurpose of my machine, and I prefer the stepped wedges for securingcertainty as well as precision of action; I prefer that the stock shallnot be compelled to slide directly in contact with the stops oradjustable wedge members but shall be engaged by a roll, as this givesbetter results, and I prefer that this roll shall be positively drivenso as to offer as little resistance as possible to the passage ot' thestock, and I prefer` that this rollshall be freely movable, -except asstopped by the graduated'caln stops or -even the leather in response toand in accordance with the feeler mechanism, vby A which they aredirectly influenced or affected so as automatically to grade withreference to said feeler mechanism.

' 80 As the stock is fed through the machine and escapes from the gate 2the gate drops,

thereby locking the segmentA 33 by the engagement with itsedge-teeth 78cf a detent 79 connected by a link 80, see Fig. 5, to a bell-crank. 8lconnected by a link 82 to vsaid gate. If for any reason the feeler plate8 should rise after the gaging mechanism 1s locked, this-risingorindependent adjustment is permitted by the spring'QZ and the slots 13without affecting either the gaging mechanism or grading mechanism. Toaid 4the gate in closing I provide a spring 83 connected tol saidbell-crank. The vdetent 7 9 slides in a block 84 mounted on a ledge 85of the frame which supports the sector and adjacent mechanism.

As soon as the .stock has passed entirely through the machine, thegage-roll drops and thereby opens the gate, being provided for thispurpose with a plunger 8G operating a lever 87 pivoted at 88 andprovided with a bar 89 at its opposite end normally resting beneath thecrank 90 for operating said l gate, see Figs. l and 4. Said bar 89 isalso 105 connected by a link 91 to a crank 92 on the shaft 48 operatedby the lingers 4G, so that as soon as the forward end of the stock haspassed the feeler' plate said fingers thereupon remove the supportingbar 89 from be- 110 'neath the crank 90 connected with the gate andleave the latter in condition to drop whenever the stock has escapedtherefrom.

For giving extreme delicacy of operation i to the tripping mechanism forbranding or stamping the grade marks upon the leather and enabling themachine to respond with certainty to thin pieces of leather, I providespecial mechanism operated by the lifting of the pressure roll 70 by theentrance bey120 neath said roll of the front end of the stock. I preferthis construction for several reasons, first, because it causes themarking de- -vice to act Whenthe work has arrived at exactly the rightposition, and, secondly, because it is notdependent in any way upon thestiffness of the stock nor upon the thickness of the stock, as thepressure roll is necessarily obliged to rise in order to permit anystock whatever, whether thick or thin, y

clutch 101, see Figs. 4 and 8, being normally held inward by a spring102. Certain features relating to this clutch, herein shown but notclaimed, are duly claimed in my copending application Serial No.219,755, now Patent 1,009,988. The dog 98 is normally in position toalmost but not quite engage a shouldered collar 103 fast on the mainshaft 104 and is caused to engage by the upward movementl of the roll70, rod 86 and spring 95 which act. to lower the detent 96 and dog 98.The instant the shouldered dog 98 is lowered from the position shown inFig. 1 it is struck by the neXt following shoulder of the collar 103which rotates with the drive shaft 104 and instantly shifted to theright Fig. 1 so as to disengage or release the clutch member 101. Thespring 95 is provided toaccommodate varying thicknesses of stock. Whenthus engaged and swung by the rotation of the collar and shaftbackwardlytoward the right Fig. 1, the dog 98 is held by a spring 105,up against an overhanging stop .fr of a fixed guide bar m1 so thatthereafter it cannot accidentally drop against the shoulder of thecollar again, the cam plate 100having meanwhile released the pin` 106 ofthe clutch 101 permitting thelatter to be moved instantly forward by itsspring 107 to engage the complemental teeth 108 0n the huh of a pinion109 lQose on a stub shaft ljust above said main Ishaft 104 and geared tothe latter by said pinion 109 which also drives a gear 110 on the shaft111 of the gage-roll 70. The clutch 101 is provided with teeth in meshwit-h idler-s 112, 113 for driving a gear 114 on a shaft 115 providedwith a cam 116 for lifting a plunger 117 and permitting the same to fallunder the action of'springs 118, said plunger being carried wheel 66 andoperating mechanism. Said marking wheel is journaled in a hanger 120supported on rods 121 depending from the cross-bar 119 and sliding'inguide ways 122 in a fixed bridge 123.

The feeding mechanism is opera-ted by a sprocket chain 124. Above thefeed chain 7 1 provide a/ special shoe or presser plate 125wfor coperating with said feed chain in giving a strong positive feed for all kindso'f stock alike, said shoe or presser plate being heavy and rigid andextending directly in line with and above the teeth or prongs 6 of thefeed chain Jfor-impaling the leather on said teeth irrespective of thetendy the chain,

by a cross-bar 119.which carries the marking p enc 1 provided pressersat the opposite sides of the result being that very flexible and spongystock would bend at the edges beneath said pressers and arch more orless out of contact with the impaling prongs.

The presser plate 125 is held down yieldingly by springs 126.127.

The operation of the foregoing machine is as follows: 'lf the operatorhas been running through number 11 or 12 soles, for

instance, and next has a job of number 5 soles, he adjusts the guides 5correspondingly by -means of the hand wheel 4 so as properly to centerthe stock, and then, the gate 2 being already'held in raised position bythe bar 89 and connected mechanism extending back to the gage-roll 70,the leather piece is shoved against the feed prongs and quickly liftedinto contact with the fbeler plate 8 (claimed broadly in my Patent1,009,988) which is immediately lifted by the leather piece as thelatter is fed inward by the feed chain, said plate yielding to theunevenness of the stock as the latter passes along.` As soon as thefront end of the stock reaches the back edge of the feeler plate, itstrikes the adjacent ingers 46 which operate to release the gate, andalso, (in case the piece f stock is a small piece, as a counter or tap,or in case it is intended to even and grade the stock of saidleather tobend. I have before for its entire length), the operation of said lfingers in such case serves to throw the detent 35 into engagement withthe sector 33 of the setting mechanism. As the leather passes alongbeneath the feeler plate, the latter bends and yields upwardly anddownwardly following along the edges ofthe Aleather piece under thepressure of the elbow levers 23, 24 actuated by the equalizing spring26, and as one post 11 or 12, as the case may be, is depressed lowerthan the other, it correspondingly rocks the shaft 17 and through theconnections 30, 31 and 32 moves the forward end of the sector 33 outwardto the right, each successive increment ofdownward movement of either ofthe posts 11, 12 being deftly and accurately retained by said sectorwhich is engaged, as stated, by its pawl 35 for the purpose. Theedge-engagement or gracling with reference to a plurality of edgedetections, following the variations of edge contour, is not hereinclaimed, as it is broadly claimed in my copending application, nowPatent. No. 841,809. 1f counters or the like are being evened o-rgraded, the spring' 22 is given a corresponding tension, so as torequire the plate 8 to assume a more nearly rigid condition. Said spring22 also performs another useful ofliec. It operates, upon the entranceof stock, to compel the quick action of the rock shaft and all itsconnected parts back to the wedge-carrying bar 57. The spring 22 pressesunremittingly upward upon' rod 14 and hence always causes the train ofparts 15, 16, 17, 30-33, 54, 56, 57-67 to be pulled forward. As thispulling strain is consta-nt, pulling forward at one end of said train ofparts, while the spring 72 exerts at the opposite end of said train ofparts a rearwardv pulling strain which is also constant, it follows thatno lost motion canV take place, and the gaging mecha-nism must,instantly respond to the feeling mechanism with no ossibility ofuncertainty due to looseness o parts or the like. In case it is notdesired to classify the particular work in hand for its entire length,but only with reference to a portion thereof, the lever 49 is thrown upinto its full line position Fig, 2 so as to be uninfluenced by thelingers 46 and| thereupon the ,eveningY and grading movements are notretained until the forward end of the st'ock ,strikes the roll-43according to any given adjustment thereof, and thereupon said rollthroughits connections 41, 40, 39 and 37 operates the dog 35 the same asbefore. When the stock has been fully felt of and its desired thinnestportions determined and recorded by said automatic mechanism, the

detent 79 immediately locks the sector 33- "and reta-ins it and all theconnected mecha.-

nism back to the gage-roll 70 in immovable position thereafter until thestock has finallyl passed from the machine, said detent beingv actuatedby the dropping of the gate 2.

`The grade marking and leather cuttin or evening devices are set by thegra u'al swinging outward to the right of the sector 33 through theactuation by its opposite end of theparts 5a-57, the latter shfting'thestepped wedges of the evening mechanism and thereby positively fixingthe extent of vertical movement thereafter possible to thegage roll andat the same time through the connections (S0-6 5 rotating the marking.wheel 66 accurately to the proper position for marking the leatheraccording to its determined grade.

I am aware that my invention is capable of a wide variety ofembodiments'within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawingsand description, andaccordingly I wish it understood that the present embodiment hereinpresented is merely a preferred construction, except as otherwiseexplicitly stated,

l I For lack of al bet-ter generic term to cover --claim as new anddesire tofieeure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the"'kind described, feeler mechanism for detectingthin spots, comprising a flexible plate capable of bending to theunevenness of the piece of leather', and means for maintaining saidplate in yielding engagement with the leather, leatherl engagingmechanism governed by the feeler mechanism for operating on the leather,and mechanism including setting nie-ans for transmitting thedesireddeterminations of said feeler mechanism.

2. In a machine of thev kind described, a flexible feeler plate, meansfor supporting the leather to be felt by said flexible plate, means forvarying the flexibility of said plate, leather-engaging means, andmechanism responsive to said feeler plate for adjusting saidleather-engaging means.

3. In a machine of the kind described, feeler means for engaging a pieceof stock at avplurality of places for feeling of thesame, means formaintaining without presplurality of places, a plurality of transmittingdevices 'for transmitting the .thinnest measurement determined by saidfeeling means, leather-engaging means governed by lsaid devices, andseparate pressure-mechanism for maintaining uniform 'pressure adjacentthe opposite edges of the stock being felt of.

5. In a machine of the kind described, y feeler mechanism, includingmeans for engaging the stock, opposite pressure-devices, having acounterbalancing spring extending between them and transmitting themovements of one of said devices tothe other.

6. In a machine of the kind described, a flexible feeler plate, meansyfor supporting the leather to be felt ofk by said liexible portions ofsaid said transmitting means for applying uniform pressure adjacent theopposite ends ot said feeler plate.

7. In a machine tot" the kind described, eeler mechanism tor feeling ota piece ot stock, gaging mechanism operated .by said feeler mechanism,and setting means actuated by said stock v,tor causing said gagingmechanism to be set with relation to the thin piece from the extremefront end of the stock.

8. In a machine of mechanism for adapting and short pieces of stock,

the kind described, the machine to taps comprising the combination offeeler mechanism for feelingv of a piece of stock, leather-engagingmeans Jfor operating on the stock, gaging mechanism therefor, settingmechanism for, controlling said gaging mechanism, and means,

capable of operating throughout the entire length ot the stock, forrendering and maintaining said setting mechanism responsive to all theteeler movements for the entire length of stock.

9. In a machine of the kind described, feeler mechanism tor feling of apiece of stock, gaging mechanism operated by said teeler mechanism, andsetting means actuated by said stock for setting said gaging mechanism,said setting means including a trip, and tivo devices, one of saiddevices being arranged to operate the rtrip after the front end of thepiece of stock has passed some distance beyond said teeler mechanism,and. the other of said devices being arranged to operate the trip tocause said gaging mechanism 'to be set 1with relation to the thinportions of said piece from the eXtreme front end of the stock, saidlatter ot' said tivo devices being movable at the will of the operatorinto inoperative position out ot the path of the stock and out otinfluence on said trip.

l0. In a machine ot' the kind described, adjustable stock gradingmechanism to engage one side ot the stock, teeler mechanism to detectthin spots in the stock in accord-- ance with whiclrthe latter"- is tohe graded, and interveninglgaging means tor transmitting to saidengaging means the determinations oi? said -t'eeler mechanism. includingmeans constructed and arranged to prevent lost motion in saidtransmission. y

ll. In amachine ofthe kind described, adjustable stock grading mechanismto Iengage one side ot the stock, tecler mechanism to detect thin spotsin the stock in accordance with which the latter is to he graded.including an adjustable member,extending across the piece ot' stock tromside to side thereof, adjusted by engagement with the stock, andconnecting means for setting said grading mechanism in response to theadjustment ot said adjustable member, having lost motion preventingstructural components for preventing lost motion in said connectionswhen setting the grading mechanism.- y

l2. In a machine ot the kind described, the combination with an eveningcutter, ot a movable gage roll, an adjustable stop for limiting themovement of said gage roll, teeler mechanism to detect thin spots inaccordance with which said stop is to be set, and connections torsetting said stop in accordance with the determinations of sai :teelermechanism, including provision for i transmit-ting said setting movementWithout lost-motion variation.

13. In a machine of the kind described, eeler mechanism, gradingmechanism, setsaid feeler mechanism for governing sa-d gradingmechanism, and means Conner-tntt tively transmitting Without variationveach said set-ting mechanism;

14:. In a machine of the kind described, :teeler mechanism, eveningmechanism, setting mechanism ettectively responsive to said feelermechanism for governing said evening mechanism, and means connecting thefeeler and setting mechanisms tor positively transmitting Withoutvariation each gaging increment of feeler determination to said settingmechanism.

15. In a machine ot' the kind described, means to operate on a leatherpiece, comprising adjusting means which includes a notched cam-stop, andmeans controlled by the leather piece tor adjusting said cam-stop. 16.In a machine of the kind described, an evening cutter to grade a leatherpiece, a movable gage roll, a notched cam-stop for limiting the movementot said gage vroll With reference to said cutter, and means controlledby the leather piece for adjusting 'said cam-stop.

i7. In a machine ot the kind described, an evening cutter to grade aleather'piece, a movable gage roll, a notched cam-stop for limiting themovement ot said gage roll with reference to said cutter, meanscontrolled by the leather piece for adjusting said camstop, and meansmovable with said gage roll adapted to interlock with said notchedcamstop when said roll is engaged by said piece to be cut.

18. In a machine ot' the kind described, the coml'iinat'icn with anevening cutter, 'of a movable gage roll adapted to be moved by' theengagement therewith ot' the leather piece to be evened, and adjustingmeans for regulating the movement ot said gage roll, l including astationary part and a longitudigaging increment of feeler determinationtof tingV mechanism effectively responsive to the teelerand settingmechanisms for posiv nally movable wedge-shaped cam-stop adjustable intoposition between said station ary part and said gage roll.

19. In a machine of the kind described, the

4movable stop-means having two wedgeshaped portions adapted to engagerespectively said stationary part adjacent the op ithe combination withan evening cutter, of

vposite ends of said gage roll.

/ 20. In a machine of the kind described,

a movable gage roll adapted to be moved by the engagement therewith ofthe leather piece to be evened,.and adjusting means for regulating themovement of said gage roll, including a stationary part, and a cam-stopmovable approximately parallel to said gage roll having tivowedge-shaped portions lo.- cated respectively adjacent the opposite endsof'said roll and adapted to be moved between said ends of the roll and.said stationary part for limiting the movement. of the roll whenengaged byl said leather piece.

21. In va machine of .the lkind described, feeler mechanism, eveningmechanism, including a gage device, and means for set.- t-ing said gagedevice according to said feeler mechanism, including adjustable meansfor limiting the movement of said gage device and having an impactsurface perpendicular to the direction of movement of said gage device,during all the movements of,

saidgage device.

22. In a mach1ne.of the kind described,

feeler mechanism, grading mechanism Conf trollefl by. said feelermechanism, and seti" ting mechanism responsive to said feelr mechanismfor setting said grading mechanisin, said grading mechanism includingstepped inclines and a gage device con'- 'structed to coperate with saidinclines for lheavy cross head, a gage devicemovable in 604 saidstandards toward and from said cross head, a slide bar and inliiesmovably mounted in said cross head toregulate said gage device, andmeans for automatically moving said bar and inclines.

25. In a machine f the kind described,

feeler mechanism, a grade marker and evening mechanism responsive tosaid feeler vice to limit the movement of said pressuredevice, and meansto vary the relative grading relation of said marker and eveningmechanism soithat the machine will even flush or meager as desired withrelation to the markings.

26. In a machine of the kind described, feeler mechanism, eveningmechanism i'esponsive to said feeler mechanism, including a pressuredevice, a heavy cross head in opposition to said pressure device, andmeans for adjusting said cross head for producing in the evening adesired variation from the determinations of said feeler mechanism.

27. In a machine of the kind described, yielding feeler mechanism at thefront of the machine, leather-engaging means for operating on the stockat the rear of the machine, and feeding mechanism for feeding the stockfrom said mechanism to said means, including impaling prongs forengaging the stock, and a rigid presser device located directlyvertically opposite said impaling prongs for pressing the stock on thelatter and holding it in engagement therewith.

28. In a machine of the kind described, yielding feeler mechanism at thefront of the machine, means for operating on the stock at the rear ofthe machine, and feeding mechanism for feeding the stock from saidmechanism to said means, including-impaling prongs for engaging thestock, and a lrigid presser plate extending centrally.

lengthwise of the machine directly over said impaling prongs forengaging the middle of the stock being operated upon and pressing itdown upon said prongs. I

2S). In a machine of the class'described, feeler mechanism including anormally flexible plate for engaging the stock, and means for renderingsaid plate rigid for operating oii narrow stock, combined withleather-engaging apparatus governed by said feeler mechanism forindicating the determinations of the latter.

30. In a machine of the kind described, a feeler plate, yielding meansfor permitting the opposite ends of said plate to yield independently,means for transmitting the movements of said plate, including a rockshaft, and a spring between said plate and rock shaft normally tendingto move said sh aft in opposition to said plate.

` 81. In a machine of the kind' described, a feeler plate, gradingmechanism controlled thereby, ,operating connections'between said plateand mechanism, yielding means for maintaining said plate vin pressingcontact medals with the stock, and mechanism independent of saidyielding means for preventing lost motion in said connectionsandmaintaining said connections instantly responsive at all times. e

32. In a machine of the kind described, feeler mechanism, including awork member extendingtransversely of the machine in position to engagethe stock from edge to edge-of said stock, devices responsive to themovements of said member under the influence of said stock at theopposite edges thereof, said devices being normally fixed but capable ofadjustment toward and from each other in accordance with differentwidths of stock, and adjusting means for fixing said responsive devicesin their said diEercnt adjustments, transmission mechanism, and stockgrading mechanism auto matically regulated by said transmissionmechanism with relation to said feeler mechanism.

33,'In a machine of the kind described, feeler mechanism to detectthin-spots in a leather piece, and grading mechanism governed by saidfeeler mechanism, said feeler mechanlsm including a member extendingacross the leather piece from side. to side l A thereof, opposite'meansengaging said member for transmitting the movements thereof,

laterally adjust-able onsaid member for different-widths f stock.

34. In a machine of the kind described,

z lfeeler 'mechanism to detect thin spots in a v eatherpiece,

posts toward 45, f of leather, pieces of different widths.

leather iece, and grading mechanism governed b said feeler mechanism,said feeler mechanism including a member'` extending across the leatherpiece fr0m` side `to side thereof, opposite posts standing endwise withrelation to said member to transmit the determinations of said member inits enagement with the opposite edges of the I and means for shiftingsaid and from each other for maintaining them approxlmately over theedges 35. In a machine of the kind described, feeler mechanism, gradingmechanism, feeding mechanism, a gate in front of said feeler mechanismto control the entrance of stock to the machine, said mzading mechanismincluding a vertically movable pressure device beneath which the stockmust pass from said feed mechanism, a lever extending lengthwise of themachine, means at one end of said lever connected with said gate andlmeans at the opposite end connected with said pressure device, arrangedto open the gate by the fall of the pressure device.

36. In a machine o the kind described,

feeler mechanism, gradingl mechanism, feedi ing mechanism, a gate infront of said feeler mechanism to control the entrance of stock to themachine, said grading mechanism including e a vertically movablepressure de- 37.l In a machine of the kind described,l :feelermechanism, grading mechanism, and

to the latter the demeans for transmittin terminations of the eelermechanism, in-` cluding a swinging ratchet member having adjacent itsfreeend radial ratchet teeth and transverse ratchet teeth, meanscoperating with said "ifradial teeth to vprevent swinging movement inone direction, and means coperating withv the transverse teeth toprevent swinging movement in the opposite direction, one of said meansbeing operated by the feeler mechanism for retaining the determinationsthereof, and operating mechanism for-said other means toactuate the.latter to lock the swinging -ratchet against further movement. j

38. In a machine of t-he kind described, feeler mechanism, gradingmechanism, and means/for transmittin to the latter the determinations ofthe cluding a swinging ratchet member having eeler mechanism, in-

adjacent one free end radial ratchet teeth?- and transverse ratchetteeth, and adjacent its opposite end a segmental rack, a pinion engagedwith said rack, means adjusted by` said'pinion for determining theposit-ion of said grading mechanism, means coperating with said radialteeth to 'prevent swinging movement in-one direction, and meanscooperating with the transverse teeth topprevent swinging movement inthe opposite direction, one of said means being operated by the feelermechanism for retaining the des terminations thereof, and. operatingmechanism for lsaid other lmeans to actuate the latterto lock l theswinging lratchet against further movement. J

39. In a lmachine-of the kind feeler mechanism to detect thin spots in aleather piece, feeding. mechanism for feed' ing theleather pxiec'e,grading mechanism -toA engage "the lea er in accordance with th'edeterminations ff the feelerv mechanism, gaging mechanism fortransmitting to the grading mechanism said determinations, includingtripping means in position to be tripped by the leather piece the momentits 'front end is felt'of, other tripping means at a distance, and meansfor placing either onel of said tripping means at the will of theoperator in operative relation with the gaging described,

mechanism for operating the latter either with relation to the extremefront end of the stock or to a point back from thefront end according to.Whether one tripping means is being used or the other as the case maybe.

40. In a machine of the kind described,

the combination of means 'for receiving a leather piece to be graded,including a member extending across the leather piece from side to sidethereof, adjustably and pivrotally supported, a cutter, regulatingrolls,

one of which is also adjustably supported, an adjustable stop, meansoperatively related to the adjustable regulating roll and adapt- L edtoengage the stop, means for adjusting the stop, means operatively relatedto the adjustable member for operating the stopadjusting means, andyielding means disposed between the last said means and thestopadjusting means to permit a further yadjustment of the saidreceiving member -from side to-side thereof, a cutter, regulating rolls,er1-eef which is .also adjustable, a y notched cam, means operativelyrelated to the last said roll and adapted to coperatie With said notchedcam toA limit the adjustment'of said roll, and means` controlled bytheadjustment of the adjustable receiving member for movingithefea'm tovcoplerate With said coperating means ali il permit thel regulating rollto b e thereby 1 correspondingly adjusted.

42, In a machine of the kindv described,

the combination of receiving members to receive between them a piece ofleather Ito be' evened, oneof said members bein adjustable and entendingacross the' lea-t 1er piece from sidel to lside thereof, a cutter,regulat'-l ing rolls, one of whichv is also' adjustable, bearingslocated above said rolls, said bearings being provided With an inclinedface, a coperating stop member providedWi-th 1nclined faceseengaging theinclined faces on the bearings,l and means' operatively related to saidadjustable receiving member for po# sitioning said stop member. i

In testimony'whereof, I have signed lmy name to'this 'specicat-ion, inthe presence of l two subscribing Witnesses.

l 'l ELMER rt mentors.

Witnesses: l l

GEO. H. MaWELL, M, A. J oNEjs.

